Eli Lilly Successfully Appeals $176 Million Verdict in Legal Battle with Teva’s Ajovy
In a significant legal victory for pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, a federal judge in Massachusetts has overturned a jury verdict that awarded Teva Pharmaceutical $176.5 million in damages. The verdict had found that Lilly’s migraine drug, Emgality, infringed upon three patents related to Teva’s rival drug, Ajovy.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs ruled that the Teva patents covering the use of antibodies to inhibit headache-causing peptides were invalid. While acknowledging the weight of overturning a jury verdict, Judge Burroughs concluded that the patents in question were overly broad and did not provide sufficient guidance for scientists to recreate the antibodies without extensive experimentation.
Representatives for both companies have not yet responded to requests for comment on the court’s decision.
This legal battle between Eli Lilly and Teva began in 2018 when Teva sued Lilly over the disputed patents. Interestingly, on the same day that Teva filed its lawsuit, two other related Teva lawsuits seeking to block Eli Lilly’s Emgality from entering the U.S. market were dismissed by the court.
Eli Lilly earned more than $650 million from global sales of Emgality last year, while Teva generated $377 million from Ajovy. The outcome of this legal dispute will have significant financial implications for both companies.
The jury’s initial verdict in favor of Teva came in November, rejecting Lilly’s argument that the patents were invalid. However, Eli Lilly pursued an appeal that ultimately resulted in Judge Burroughs overturning the validity decision.
This ruling is a significant win for Eli Lilly as it reaffirms the company’s position in the competitive migraine drug market. The battle for market share has been fierce between Eli Lilly’s Emgality and Teva’s Ajovy, both of which are considered effective treatments for migraines. The outcome of this case will likely impact the market dynamics and the profitability of both drugs.
In conclusion, Eli Lilly’s successful appeal against the $176.5 million verdict in Teva’s favor marks a pivotal moment in the legal battle over migraine drug patents. This decision by Judge Burroughs underscores the importance of patent validity and the need for clear and specific guidelines in such cases. As both companies assess their next steps, the pharmaceutical industry will be watching closely to gauge the potential impact on the market and the future of migraine treatments.
